Monkeybaby, ki4pak, Alex, and libllama thank you all for you kind reviews. They make me swell with pride. Thanks to the rest of you for continuing to read this and those who are still adding it to their favorite and alert lists.

Contains scenes from 2x22.

After church the following day, Anna was standing in the courtyard when Jamie walked over to her. "How are you doing?" Jamie asked.

"I'm good. Nothing major to complain about," Anna answered.

"It'll be three years on Tuesday."

Anna stared at her uncle. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I know it's going to be hard. With school that day and a baseball game, I hope I'll be distracted enough that I don't miss him too much."

"Does it still hurt?"

"Doesn't it always?"

"Yeah," Jamie said. "You?"

"I think it always will especially around this kind of holiday. I know he wouldn't want me to be sad though. Today's about Mom and Aunt Erin and even after Grandma died, Uncle Joe wanted them to feel just as special. Speaking of your brothers ..." Anna trailed off as Danny walked over. Jamie smiled down at her. Danny hollered at Jack and Sean for rolling around in the grass fighting, seemingly only worried that they would ruin their good Sunday clothes. Then he and Jamie reminisced about all the times they, and Joe, had done the same after church. The only difference here, according to Jamie, was that Jack wasn't giving his brother dead legs like they used to.

"Yeah, you'll have to teach him about that," Danny said. Anna looked up at her uncle wondering why her dad had said Jamie would have to. She wondered if it was because he had given out so many of them or if it was because he had been on the receiving end. Since he had mentioned Jack giving them out, Anna was betting the latter. Danny's phone rang and pulled it out to find his partner on the other end. Jamie sent Anna a smile then went back to watching his nephews run around the yard. When Danny hung up, Jamie asked him what the call had been about and after filling him in, and some good natured teasing, they were off to talk to some guy named Keith Daily. Anna wasn't sure who he was or why he was important but knew she'd probably find out at dinner.

Back at the Reagan Homestead, Anna checked with Henry who told her they had about an hour and a half before dinner. Anna checked the cabinets and the fridge and asked if it was okay if she made desert. He asked what she was making and when she said, he readily agreed. She knew though that the longer she waited before starting the better it would taste, especially if it came out of the oven just before they finished eating so she helped with the salad and veggies before going to set the table. She was nearly done when Danny and Jamie walked back in. "Where'd you two disappear off to?" Anna asked as they entered the kitchen.

"Do you remember that case about two years ago? A six year old boy by the name of Patrick Goodwin who disappeared from school?" Danny asked.

"Something about confusion with the neighbor and the mom?" Anna asked. "Sean was just older than that back then. Keith Daily had something to do with it?"

"Daily worked in the garage across the street and claims his girlfriend forced him to take Patrick," Danny answered.

"Did you find him?" Nicky asked.

"We did, and he's been returned to his mother, alive," Jamie said.

"Anna, finish setting the table," Henry said.

Anna grabbed the silverware and a pitcher of water before heading into the dining room. When she returned, not even two minutes later she turned on the stove and scooped something into a pot before adding some spices. "What are you doing over there?" Jamie asked.

"You'll see later, now go or you'll ruin it," Anna answered. Danny and Jamie left the kitchen and Anna continued to work. Henry was soon pulling the meat from the oven and Anna turned down the temperature on it before moving her pot off the stove.

Soon they were sitting down to dinner as dessert cooked. As Anna entered the dining room she heard Sean complain that it wasn't fair that there wasn't a Kid's Day, to which Erin responded that Kid's Day was every day. "Okay then, why doesn't Anna have to help?" Sean answered.

"Because Anna set the table, filled the water glasses and is making dessert. Top that, little one. Besides that's the best thing about having little brothers, they have to do everything you don't want to do. And on top off all that it's my turn to clear."

"It's still no fair."

"Keep whining, Sean-o and I'll make it so you have to help Nicky with the dishes," Anna threatened.

"Don't threaten your brother," Linda said.

"Why me?" Nicky asked.

"Because I let you down by snapping at my father and you're on the hook for a month of dishes, remember? It hasn't quite been a month," Anna answered.

Danny cut off any response Nicky would have had by bringing out the mashed potatoes. "And last but not least the world-famous Frank Reagan Mother's Day Mash," he said.

"Can I serve it?" Sean asked eagerly.

"Only Grampa serves those," Nicky answered.

"That is exactly correct," Frank said, coming in and taking the potatoes from Danny.

"Just in time, Dad," Danny said, surrendering them.

"Hey everybody," Frank answered. Everyone greeted him as well. "Thanks for making them for me, Nicky,"

Danny ruffled his daughter's hair before taking his seat and Frank walked towards the head of the table. The potatoes were a little lumpy but that was the way that Mary had liked them best so no one complained. "Did you talk to the Mayor?" Henry asked as he stood at his end of the table.

"No, but I sent him a letter," Frank answered nonchalantly. Anna's head snapped up and the rest of the family looked worried too. Anna's brain worked into overtime. If nothing major had happened over the weekend, it was just a fire drill or exercise, why would Frank send the mayor a letter? Especially a letter of resignation which is what it looked like from the looks on Erin's and Henry's faces. "I sent him my recipe for my famous Mother's Day Mash," Frank finished. Henry laughed and Anna surveyed the table. Everyone looked relieved. Again Anna was suspicious that something major had happened that they didn't want to tell her about, but knowing she wouldn't get an answer, she didn't ask. Then Frank prompted Sean to begin the Mother's Day Blessing.

"We thank you, God, for our mothers," Sean said.

"I thank you that she gave me life and nurtured me all of those years," Erin added.

"She gave me faith and helped me to know you and to know Jesus and his ways," Linda went on.

"She taught me how to love," Jamie said.

"And how to sacrifice for others," Henry continued.

Then Jack added, "she taught me it was okay to cry and to always tell the truth."

That meant it was Anna's turn. "She taught me the difference between right and wrong and how to trust," Anna said.

"Bless her with the graces she needs and which you want to give her this day," Nicky went on.

"Help her to feel precious in your eyes today, and to know that I love her," Danny added.

"Give her strength and courage, compassion and peace," Frank added.

"Bless her this day with your love, Amen," they finished together. Then they passed the food around. Anna tuned out most of the talk around her as none really caught her attention, especially not since they had already talked about Danny's case.

"Do I smell pie?" Frank asked as dinner wound down.

"Maybe," Anna answered, smirking.

Erin sniffed the air and smiled. "It smells like Mom's apple pie."

"Maybe," Anna answered again. A few minutes later she got up from the table and went to check on the pie. It was almost done. She cleared the table with Danny's help and as he took the dessert plates to the table, Anna pulled the pie from the oven. She removed the foil from the edges and saw the edges had browned perfectly and hadn't burned. Any time she had forgotten to wrap the edges with foil, they had burned because the middle cooked slower than the rest of the pie. Anna carefully brought the pie to the table, setting it at Frank's end and served Linda first then Erin.

"This is the best apple pie I've had in about seven years," Erin said.

"I used Grandma's recipe, I thought we should have a bit of her at the table today," Anna said nervously as she reclaimed her seat.

"It's great, kiddo," Danny said.

"Perfect," Frank added.

"Reminds me of her," Jamie said, wrapping an arm around his niece.

"My sweet, Anna Reagan," Jim said, approaching her Tuesday after school on their way to the ball field.

"What do you want, Jim?" Anna asked, trying not to come off irritated.

"To talk to my best friend," Jim answered.

"Jim," Anna stated plainly.

"I know what today is, so does Coach."

"And he wants to know if I can handle it or if I'd be better off sitting out the entire game?" Anna asked. "The only reason Coach knows is because he worked with your cousin and they were really close. That's how both of them coach baseball at this school." The jv baseball coach was Jim's dad's cousin and both he and the varsity coach, his best friend, had worked for a fire engine company out of the Bronx. When the varsity coaching position had opened up, Jim's cousin had pitched his friend for the job and since he had been retired for a few years from the department, he had taken it.

"Come on, Anna, he's just—He knows how close you and Joe were and that it's only been three years." Jim pulled her to a stop and Anna stared up at him.

"And he doesn't want to lose his winning streak?" Anna asked. She shook her head and cleared her thoughts. "I'm fine. I can do this. However Drew is still his number one pitcher and I doubt I'll have to play despite the fact that I'm up for it."

"Okay. And just so you know, I don't want you to get hurt."

"You wouldn't be this concerned if it was Drew. I don't need your pity. I've told you that before. I can do this on my own."

"You shouldn't have to though."

"Sure." Anna shrugged. Jim sighed but didn't say another word as they went out to the field.

That night after the game, Danny found Anna in the kitchen emptying the dishwasher. "Hey," he said softly.

"Hi, Dad," Anna answered, barely sparing him a look.

"What did I do now?"

"Nothing, which isn't a bad thing," Anna shrugged.

"How you doing?" Danny asked.

"Oh, this is going to be one of those stop and talk to me things?" Anna put the last plate in the cupboard and looked at him.

"Something wrong with that?" he asked, brow furrowed.

"No, I just can't always tell. Sometimes you want to have a lengthy conversation and sometimes you just want to say hi and move on. I'm okay though."

"Oh?" Danny asked. Anna looked up into his brown eyes to see he was looking for something.

"Yes. No twister moments lately, no hurricanes, just teenage drama that's no big deal. I'm okay, really. And I'm not just saying that so you'll leave me alone."

"That's good to hear." Danny stood there for a moment longer in silence. Anna watched him then went back to unloading the dishwasher. "You don't have to do this alone. You have family, even if I'm busy, my kids come first."

"I know Dad," she slipped some forks into the drawer. "I know," she answered when it didn't look like he didn't believe her. "I'm not holding it in because I don't think you care, I know you do and I know that you want to be here for me; that you are here for me. There's just nothing big going on in my life that I need to talk about. Am I sad because three years ago today my uncle died because some crazed cop liked stealing too much and Uncle Joe was on to him? Absolutely but I know that I can't live in the past and Uncle Joe wouldn't want me to either. After Grandma Mary died, he told me that it was okay to cry and to remember her every day, especially on her birthday but to remember that moving on is just as important and what the dead want for us. Granted at that time I was nine so he was just putting it in terms a kid would understand and accept but he had a point. The more you remember the good times, the less days like today will hurt," Anna explained.

Danny watched her to see if she'd go on but she just turned back to the dishwasher so he moved around it and turned her to look at him again then he wrapped her in a hug. "Stop growing up so fast. I miss my little girl," Danny told her.

"I'm still right here, Daddy, I'm just not so little anymore," Anna answered, hugging him back none the less.

"That you are," Danny said softly. He kissed the top of her head and after a moment, let her go and she got back to her chores.

A few weeks later Danny was relaxing on the couch, destressing from the week he had when Anna carefully sat down next to him. Danny watched her as she picked at her fingernail, most likely working up the courage to ask him. He could tell she was worried about something but didn't want to push in case she shut down completely on him. Even though they had been getting along better lately through their time spent driving in the cemetery, he knew there were still things she was holding back on to keep from pushing his temper. "Alright, kid, talk to me," he said after about ten minutes or so of quiet.

"I can't thank you enough for spending time with me driving in the cemetery," Anna said slowly.

"But?" Danny pressed when she stopped.

"I was hoping ... you'd take me out on the road," Anna rushed the end of the sentence.

"I don't know, Anna. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"The only way to know is to get out there and do it. Right?" Anna asked. "Unless of course you're not ready then I'll wait." Anna looked down at her pants and fiddled with a loose string.

Danny studied his only daughter. He could tell she was nervous to be asking him but the closer he looked the more he could tell she was trying to hold back how excited she really was. "Okay," Danny finally said.

"Yeah?" Anna asked.

"Yeah, Sunday after mass."

"Thank you," Anna squealed. She hugged him tight then rushed upstairs to call Becky. Danny sat in shock for a moment then smiled as he went back to watching TV. So Sunday after mass, Danny borrowed his grandfather's old car and took her out to the graveyard just to make sure she had the basics down and after a while, once he was sure, he nervously let her drive back to the house. "Thanks again, Dad," Anna said as she put the car in park in the garage.

"Sure," Danny said.

"So, how'd it go?" Frank asked, halfway through dinner. Everyone stopped and looked at Danny.

"Okay, I guess," Danny said.

"You guess?" Jamie asked.

"Is that good or bad?" Erin asked.

"I still don't think we should let her drive with kids in the car," Danny told his wife.

"You still think that? Because that's not what you said in the car," Anna said lightly.

"What did he say?" Linda asked, looking at Anna.

"First, his only comment during the drive was to watch my speed, but after I backed it into the garage, perfectly might I add, it was "Are you sure you're not getting lessons from someone behind my back, because you drive better than anyone else I've ever taught." I took that as a complement though I'm not sure who else he's taught to drive," Anna said.

"You know she does always have the best record at the go-kart tracks," Erin said.

"That still doesn't give someone enough practice to get out on the road and drive like they have for years," Danny answered.

"Maybe not but I also learn really well by observation," Anna explained.

"Learn by observation?" Danny asked.

"It means that she has been watching you," Nicky said.

"I know what observation means, Nicky. I just didn't realize that you would pick up on things that way," Danny said.

"It happens from time to time," Anna told him. "Sometimes I learn best by watching."

"If you say so," Danny answered.

May faded into June and Anna had more driving lessons, though more were with Jamie than with her mom or dad. Linda had taken her out a few times and while she agreed with Danny that Anna was very good at driving, she also agreed that Anna still couldn't drive with the boys in the car. Linda was also sad because it meant that one of her babies was growing up.

It was a rainy Friday afternoon in the middle of June when Lou stopped her as she went to grab a glass of soda for her break. "Raylynn has called in sick for tomorrow afternoon, the doctor says she has a stomach bug, Bess can't work Saturdays because of her kids, and Annemarie has her hands full with the morning shift and can't pull a double. I know that you have absolutely zero formal training as a waitress but do you think you'll be up for it? I can help out if you get stuck but I've got a bunch of paperwork to look over and file. Please, Anna, you're my last hope," Lou told her.

"Mr. M, I don't know a thing about waitressing, I don't think I'll be any good," Anna answered.

"The folks that come in here are really great, like really great. Super patient and understanding. You'll do fine. It's not like I'm going to throw you in the deep end without floaties, Annemarie is going to walk you through everything in a few minutes and I'm here if you need it. You'll keep your tips on top of your normal pay," he tempted.

"Deal," Anna sighed.

So Annemarie walked her through everything and gave her a few extra hints at how to keep track of everything and let her practice a few times. It really helped. At the close of business the following day, Anna collapsed on a bar stool at the counter. It hadn't been a super busy day like she had expected it to be, for a Saturday, but it was busy enough to make her reconsider the position. She changed her clothes and walked back home. She was looking forward to a hot shower and an easy night and wasn't disappointed.

Over the next week and a half, Lou asked her five more times to step up then at the end of those two weeks, he sat down with her. "What's it going to take to get you to step up and officially become a waitress?" he asked.

"I don't know. I don't really feel it. It's a lot of work and it puts me right on the front lines with customers. I haven't done that before," Anna said.

"Yes, but you're super good and you're great with people. I can't think of the last time I had a waitress that was this good with people." Lou thought for a moment. "On second thought, the last time was when my wife waitressed for me. She was amazing. Made me fall in love with her."

"Uh ..." Anna trailed off not sure how to take that.

"Didn't mean anything by that. Please, Anna. You'll make more than you think."

"How's that exactly? I know it's during the summer so I can work up to 40 hours a week, especially since I'm out of school now but server minimum wage is less than busser minimum wage," Anna explained. She knew, she had looked it up.

"True but servers also make really good tips. Some of them walk out of here with $50 in tips in one night. When's the last time you did that?" Lou asked.

"Four or five hours of work and 50 bucks from it? Once. I was babysitting four kids at once and they paid me big time for it because the power went out that night and they couldn't call and say they'd be late."

"And on top of your tips you get minimum wage. So it's more like 70 bucks in a day."

"Let me think about it?" Anna said. Mr. M agreed and Anna went back to work. So she thought it over and looked up all the information she could on waitressing. She found out that if, with tips included, she didn't make minimum wage that Mr. M would have to pay her the difference and after talking to Annemarie and Raylynn, it would be a more consistent schedule which would definitely help when school started again. So on Monday, she told Lou that she would do it and he got her set up training with another waitress.